White House to Provide $100M for Semiconductor Sustainability Projects

The White House plans to award tens of millions of dollars to developers of sustainable materials that could be used in next-generation semiconductors, Biden administration officials announced.

Using AI and "Autonomous Experimentation”

The “Notice of Funding Opportunity,” issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce, calls for universities and other research entities to pursue the use of artificial intelligence and autonomous experimentation to improve semiconductor production.

Those systems, known as “AI/AE,” combine automated tools and an AI “planner” to help determine the next step of an experiment—thereby rapidly accelerating the research and design process.

Individual Awards Worth as Much as $40 Million

The newly announced competition is expected to make about $100 million in funding available overall, The U.S. Commerce Department indicated that individual awards would range between $20 million to $40 million.

The project aims to develop new, sustainable materials and processes for industries to begin testing within five years.

Bolstering the Semiconductor Research Ecosystem

The funding will be allocated under a sweeping federal law passed in 2022 to provide billions to promote domestic production of semiconductors, which has gradually shifted abroad in recent decades. 

In addition to improving the sustainability of the semiconductor industry, Commerce Department officials said the competition would also bolster the number of researchers and institutes participating in the advanced electronics ecosystem.

Concept Papers Due Early Next Year

Federal officials will host a pair of informational sessions on the program in November. Concept papers from potential participants are due in mid-January.

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